Connecticut western news., 1887-04-27
CAPE COD TURKEYS"
Some Interesting Facts About
 the Herring Fishery.
Dividing the Herring Catch iu Places Where the Fish Abounds.


 Where the Fish Abounds.
 Early in April the herrings begin to swim up the streams which have their source in the fresh water ponds to spawn. When they begin to ''run," i. e., arc numerous, tho weir is opened. A "hcrring committee'' has previously been appointed at the town meeting, and the right to the weir has been sold to the highest bidder, at auction, at the sanis time. The one who has bought theMeir has the exclusive right to fish there and sell herrings. The town in which the weir is situated holds the hcrrings caught, unless it was originally part of another town, in which case it is usually provided that the amount which the weir brought at auction shall be divided equally between the towns. If this is so, citizen of the older town has a citizens right to barrel at the fixed rate. An ordinary weir sells for about $500 or $900. Some few herrings arc caught and sold before the weir is opened. These are caught by seining in the lower bays, and is ''contrary to law" But these first herrings bring large prices. For the honor of eating the first herring caught some will pay high prices, occasionally as much as $5 each for the first one.
 "Ifrm paupcr, can have my bar rel of herrings anyhow" is an expression. On the opening of the weir the pilgrim age commences, and some arrive as early as A. NJ. The first to arrive and siga his name or mark has the first barrel; except in case it is a widow or her rep resentative, each succeeding one takes his barrel in turn. But widow has precedence over all, and each widow "has barrel from the town" Each ono has a right to a barrel, for which she pays a price fixed by the town-usually from sixty cents to seventy cents; this year sixty-four cents. Fresh herrings, when they first begin to ''run," bring forty cents dozen when retailed through the villages. Those who have a barrel usually salt them down, and after being saltedss dozen arc put on stick, the stick being thrust through the eyes of the fish, and hung on the barn or side of tue house. This is a familiar sight in villages near herring streams. They re- main hung on the side of the buildings, taken off the stick as wanted; usually some remain till the next spring, when fresh herrings have come again, and the weir is again open. A man just married, who has secured his barrel of hcr1ings, is considered we'll started on the path of fife They sell, when salted, for $1. 25 for 100 herrings. A barrel is supposed 10 hold 400 fish. They are very bony fish, and the most approved way to eat them is to eat bones and all, it being next to impossible to remove the finer bones. From 250 to 300 barrels is con- sidered good catch at the weir. Sometimes they continue catching til midnight. Every other day and sun- days the herrings are permitted to run un- molested, a sluiceway being made for them to run around the falls, so that they can reach the fresh ponds to spawn. The weir is usually at mill or fall, or 1o1ou yhoro hor ic T the fresh stream reaches the salt water. On ''good running days" the fish are so thick that it is only necessary to dip them out; sometimes they crowd each other over on to the shore. The box is filled and th,y are put in barrels and cla,med, all except widows paying at the weir. The widow has permit from the town clerk, and the people at the weir charge the town for each widows bar rel. They are counted into the barrel. The local name for them IS Cape Col Turkeys"
 The first run of the herrings at the weir is small in comparison to the later ones They at first are sold by the dozen, equally divided between the number of applicants. ''Herring ped dlers" take them and pcddle them through the ad joining towns, the citizens of which have no citizens right to barrel at the price fixed by the town. During May the herring have their heaviest ''run.' 1 Thousands of barrels are sold to the other towns. The run lasts until June usually. After certain date in June the weir is no longer private property, but by that time the barns are covered with the salted or "slit herrings." The right to barrel is used as legal tender, and man will say, 'Tll give you my barrel of hcrri gs for" so-aud-so. 4 family which did not get its barre would be considered "queer." Some make it a custom to salt herrings. Taking a barrel for widow, they salt ane
 ''stick" the 400 fish, and return 200 tt the widow, that being considered { good supply for on,. Some families
 consume four or five barrels from on'
 ''catch"till the next springs catch. I'm
 fish supply the place of meat to man.
 families through the winter. er.-Harper l Weekly.
 The Dried Currents Industry.